Pub Date
08 Oct 2019

Talking about this book? Be sure to tag it using #TheRemaking #NetGalley

Description

Inspired by a true story, this supernatural thriller for fans of horror and true crime follows a tale as it evolves every twenty years—with terrifying results.

Ella Louise has lived in the woods surrounding Pilot’s Creek, Virginia, for nearly a decade. Publicly, she and her daughter Jessica are shunned by their upper-crust family and the Pilot’s Creek residents. Privately, desperate townspeople visit her apothecary for a cure to what ails them—until Ella Louise is blamed for the death of a prominent customer. Accused of witchcraft, both mother and daughter are burned at the stake in the middle of the night. Ella Louise’s burial site is never found, but the little girl has the most famous grave in the South: a steel-reinforced coffin surrounded by a fence of interconnected white crosses.

Their story will take the shape of an urban legend as it’s told around a campfire by a man forever marked by his boyhood encounters with Jessica. Decades later, a boy at that campfire will cast Amber Pendleton as Jessica in a ’70s horror movie inspired by the Witch Girl of Pilot’s Creek. Amber’s experiences on that set and its meta-remake in the ’90s will ripple through pop culture, ruining her life and career after she becomes the target of a witch hunt. Amber’s best chance to break the cycle of horror comes when a true-crime investigator tracks her down to interview her for his popular podcast. But will this final act of storytelling redeem her—or will it bring the story full circle, ready to be told once again? And again. And again . . .

Inspired by a true story, this supernatural thriller for fans of horror and true crime follows a tale as it evolves every twenty years—with terrifying results.

Description

Inspired by a true story, this supernatural thriller for fans of horror and true crime follows a tale as it evolves every twenty years—with terrifying results.

Ella Louise has lived in the woods surrounding Pilot’s Creek, Virginia, for nearly a decade. Publicly, she and her daughter Jessica are shunned by their upper-crust family and the Pilot’s Creek residents. Privately, desperate townspeople visit her apothecary for a cure to what ails them—until Ella Louise is blamed for the death of a prominent customer. Accused of witchcraft, both mother and daughter are burned at the stake in the middle of the night. Ella Louise’s burial site is never found, but the little girl has the most famous grave in the South: a steel-reinforced coffin surrounded by a fence of interconnected white crosses.

Their story will take the shape of an urban legend as it’s told around a campfire by a man forever marked by his boyhood encounters with Jessica. Decades later, a boy at that campfire will cast Amber Pendleton as Jessica in a ’70s horror movie inspired by the Witch Girl of Pilot’s Creek. Amber’s experiences on that set and its meta-remake in the ’90s will ripple through pop culture, ruining her life and career after she becomes the target of a witch hunt. Amber’s best chance to break the cycle of horror comes when a true-crime investigator tracks her down to interview her for his popular podcast. But will this final act of storytelling redeem her—or will it bring the story full circle, ready to be told once again? And again. And again . . .

Available Editions

Average rating from 23 members

Featured Reviews

Kyle V, Educator

My Recommendation

Thanks to Mr. Chapman and Quirk books for the Advance Reader Copy of The Remaking. I read several different genre's and particularly enjoy thrillers, horror, and some true crime, so when I saw the synopsis I quickly requested. I did enjoy the book, it is a little different than what I was expecting, a little more on the YA side, which is fine, I just usually enjoy more adult themes in my horror. That being said I do read Graphic Novels, including some by Mr. Chapman and I enjoy them. If you enjoy Graphic Novels and YA horror, I think this will a great book to add to your TBR this summer! The book moves at a brisk pace with some definite creep factor that kept me interested throughout. I look forward to more work from Mr. Chapman. Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley! Happy Reading! #theremaking #netgalley

My Recommendation

Was this review helpful?

Educator 576749

My Recommendation

I absolutely enjoyed this novel as a long time horror fan. The story was very interesting and the writing was cinematic. I hope this is adapted into a movie or TV series eventually.

My Recommendation

Was this review helpful?

Keisha F, Librarian

My Recommendation

Amber is cast in a horror movie based on a true story when she was a child and is affected ever since after something horrible happens when she is on set. The movie becomes a cult favorite and it seems to actually haunt people who see it. Amber turns to prescriptions and liquor to drown her feelings and as an adult she is asked to appear in the remake. Can she stop the spirits who haunt the town? The book jumps in time from when Ella and her daughter are accused of being witches to later when Amber is young and then older.
"It felt like the film was an entity of itself-a phantom with my face. It wanted to be watched. It was using my likeness, my smile, to lure people in."

My Recommendation

Was this review helpful?

Educator 269454

My Recommendation

"These woods whisper...the woods know what the people of Pilot's Creek have done." The residents of Pilot's Creek, Virginia, a superstitious town, felt that Ella Louise Ford was "touched". As a child, she made dolls that looked like totems. (like effigies) Shunned by the populace, disowned by her parents, she raised her daughter Jessica, supporting the family of two, with Ella's Apothecary Shop nestled in the woods. There were"...miracle cures...roots and leaves and fungi of all kinds." Unfortunately, a pregnant woman died after taking Ella's suggested cure. On October 16, 1931, at four minutes past midnight,...five men went beyond the law...Tonight they were going to burn a witch." Both Ella Louise and nine year old Jessica were burned alive. Thinking that Jessica was "more powerful", she was buried in the cemetery in a steel-reinforced coffin under six feet of concrete. A metal fence of more than one hundred interlocking connected crosses was installed to prevent Jessica's ghost from searching for and reuniting with her mother who was buried somewhere deep in the woods. "Until they are reunited, her soul won't be at peace." Based upon a true witch burning, an urban legend was born. "...a legend that is told and retold without knowledge of what really happened-and why."
"The Remaking" by Clay McLeod Chapman is a ghost story divided into four chapters. The first part is a "campfire" style version of the legend of "The Witch Girl's Grave at Pilot's Creek". Subsequent retellings include the tale as a horror film, a horror film "remake", and a podcast. Amber Pendleton, a nine year old budding actress, is chosen to star as Jessica in the flick "Don't Tread on Jessica's Grave"." [Amber] was a vessel, a conduit for her character, for Jessica Ford, the Little Witch Girl...Whispers of dialogue had followed her into her dreams." Amber is "swept up in their history". She acts as the thread binding and connecting the embellished remakes of Ella Louise and Jessica's haunting story.
Although the writing was uneven at times, on the whole, this reader was impressed with the concept of four reworkings of an urban legend, one remake every twenty years. Be careful where you are at four minutes past midnight! A creepy, spooky read. Most enjoyable.
Thank you Quirk Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Remaking".

My Recommendation

Was this review helpful?

Ahlissa E, Media

My Recommendation

Vividly written from the POV of a true genre fan. Engaging dialogue and inner dialogue(s) with fleshed out characters. Exciting descriptions of the ghoulish nature and nothing felt out of place i.e. everything was written for a reason. An excellent choice for horror fans of a variety of ages.

My Recommendation

Was this review helpful?

Jen F, Librarian

My Recommendation

First, this cover is fantastic. I like that the cover was actually referenced twice in the book as well. This is a very entertaining and fun horror that really places the spotlight on bad, B horror films and the fans that follow it. I really enjoyed Amber discussing her horror conventions and the fans; I have friends that are deeply into this and I feel that the author was able to do the horror-con circuit justice (even if it's not in a favorable light - the actresses probably feel exactly the way Amber described).

Additional Information

Available Editions

EDITION

Other Format

ISBN

9781683691532

PRICE

$19.99 (USD)

Featured Reviews

Kyle V, Educator

My Recommendation

Thanks to Mr. Chapman and Quirk books for the Advance Reader Copy of The Remaking. I read several different genre's and particularly enjoy thrillers, horror, and some true crime, so when I saw the synopsis I quickly requested. I did enjoy the book, it is a little different than what I was expecting, a little more on the YA side, which is fine, I just usually enjoy more adult themes in my horror. That being said I do read Graphic Novels, including some by Mr. Chapman and I enjoy them. If you enjoy Graphic Novels and YA horror, I think this will a great book to add to your TBR this summer! The book moves at a brisk pace with some definite creep factor that kept me interested throughout. I look forward to more work from Mr. Chapman. Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley! Happy Reading! #theremaking #netgalley

My Recommendation

Was this review helpful?

Educator 576749

My Recommendation

I absolutely enjoyed this novel as a long time horror fan. The story was very interesting and the writing was cinematic. I hope this is adapted into a movie or TV series eventually.

My Recommendation

Was this review helpful?

Keisha F, Librarian

My Recommendation

Amber is cast in a horror movie based on a true story when she was a child and is affected ever since after something horrible happens when she is on set. The movie becomes a cult favorite and it seems to actually haunt people who see it. Amber turns to prescriptions and liquor to drown her feelings and as an adult she is asked to appear in the remake. Can she stop the spirits who haunt the town? The book jumps in time from when Ella and her daughter are accused of being witches to later when Amber is young and then older.
"It felt like the film was an entity of itself-a phantom with my face. It wanted to be watched. It was using my likeness, my smile, to lure people in."

My Recommendation

Was this review helpful?

Educator 269454

My Recommendation

"These woods whisper...the woods know what the people of Pilot's Creek have done." The residents of Pilot's Creek, Virginia, a superstitious town, felt that Ella Louise Ford was "touched". As a child, she made dolls that looked like totems. (like effigies) Shunned by the populace, disowned by her parents, she raised her daughter Jessica, supporting the family of two, with Ella's Apothecary Shop nestled in the woods. There were"...miracle cures...roots and leaves and fungi of all kinds." Unfortunately, a pregnant woman died after taking Ella's suggested cure. On October 16, 1931, at four minutes past midnight,...five men went beyond the law...Tonight they were going to burn a witch." Both Ella Louise and nine year old Jessica were burned alive. Thinking that Jessica was "more powerful", she was buried in the cemetery in a steel-reinforced coffin under six feet of concrete. A metal fence of more than one hundred interlocking connected crosses was installed to prevent Jessica's ghost from searching for and reuniting with her mother who was buried somewhere deep in the woods. "Until they are reunited, her soul won't be at peace." Based upon a true witch burning, an urban legend was born. "...a legend that is told and retold without knowledge of what really happened-and why."
"The Remaking" by Clay McLeod Chapman is a ghost story divided into four chapters. The first part is a "campfire" style version of the legend of "The Witch Girl's Grave at Pilot's Creek". Subsequent retellings include the tale as a horror film, a horror film "remake", and a podcast. Amber Pendleton, a nine year old budding actress, is chosen to star as Jessica in the flick "Don't Tread on Jessica's Grave"." [Amber] was a vessel, a conduit for her character, for Jessica Ford, the Little Witch Girl...Whispers of dialogue had followed her into her dreams." Amber is "swept up in their history". She acts as the thread binding and connecting the embellished remakes of Ella Louise and Jessica's haunting story.
Although the writing was uneven at times, on the whole, this reader was impressed with the concept of four reworkings of an urban legend, one remake every twenty years. Be careful where you are at four minutes past midnight! A creepy, spooky read. Most enjoyable.
Thank you Quirk Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Remaking".

My Recommendation

Was this review helpful?

Ahlissa E, Media

My Recommendation

Vividly written from the POV of a true genre fan. Engaging dialogue and inner dialogue(s) with fleshed out characters. Exciting descriptions of the ghoulish nature and nothing felt out of place i.e. everything was written for a reason. An excellent choice for horror fans of a variety of ages.

My Recommendation

Was this review helpful?

Jen F, Librarian

My Recommendation

First, this cover is fantastic. I like that the cover was actually referenced twice in the book as well. This is a very entertaining and fun horror that really places the spotlight on bad, B horror films and the fans that follow it. I really enjoyed Amber discussing her horror conventions and the fans; I have friends that are deeply into this and I feel that the author was able to do the horror-con circuit justice (even if it's not in a favorable light - the actresses probably feel exactly the way Amber described).